While strolling through the Vero Beach Museum of Art it’s nearly impossible to miss this striking work of art. The size of it alone draws attention, and for those with a passion for the ocean, passing it by just isn’t an option. At first glance, it appears to be an enormous painting of vast high seas and at about 12 feet in diameter, it feels equally immense. But a closer look at Wu Chi-Tsung’s Cyano-Collage 121, 2021 provokes just as many questions as it answers.
The title and description of the work are puzzling at first; "Cyanotype photography, Xuan paper, acrylic gel, acrylic, mounted on aluminum." VBMA Chief Curator Caitlin Swindell (pictured above with Marketing Director Suzanne Seldes) explains that the work is the result of a process that combines one of the oldest forms of photography, traditional Chinese art media and technique, and modern technical ingenuity.
Cyanotype is a photographic printing process that produces a cyan-blue print, invented by the English scientist Sir John Herschel in 1842. The process involves coating a surface, typically paper or fabric, with a solution of chemicals that, when exposed to ultraviolet light, react to form a blue pigment called Prussian blue. Xuan paper, also known as rice paper, is a traditional Chinese paper renowned for its fine texture, durability, and absorbency, making it ideal for Chinese calligraphy and ink painting.
Wu Chi-Tsung is a contemporary Taiwanese artist renowned for his innovative blend of traditional Chinese art techniques with modern media and technology. Born in Taipei in 1981, Wu's multidisciplinary approach spans video, photography, installation, and painting, often exploring the interplay between light, shadow, and perception. In his notable "Cyano-Collage" series, he reinterprets the classical art of Chinese landscape painting using cyanotype printing on large pieces of Xuan paper which he crinkles before exposing them. He then tears and cuts the paper and carefully layers it onto the aluminum using acrylic gels, creating intricate and ethereal, blue-toned compositions.
Wu's work frequently addresses themes of nature, time, and the ephemerality of existence, inviting viewers to reconsider their relationship with the natural world and the passage of time, or, as Caitlin describes it, a journey. His art has been exhibited internationally, garnering acclaim for its poetic depth and technical ingenuity.
The museum acquired this piece in April of 2022, and it is part of their permanent collection. For summer visitors checking out VBMA’s latest exhibit; Rock ‘N’ Roll Billboards of the Sunset Strip featuring the iconic photography of Robert Landau, it is worth the time to stop into the Stark Gallery and admire this decidedly different form of photography.
Contact Information:
Vero Beach Museum of Art
3001 Riverside Park Drive, Vero Beach, FL 32963
772.231.0707
Commentaires